Propulsion of boats and other vessels



Feb. 13, 1923.

A. MILLER.

PROPULSION OF BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS.

FILED OCT. 22,1921.

Patented Feta. i3, 192

ALEXANDER MILLER, 03? L EYTONSIONE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SYDNEY ARTHUR BARTHOLOMEW, OF fL-QNDOLJ, ENGLAND.

PROPULSION OF BOATS AND OTHER VESSELS.

Application filed {Porch-21 22, 1921.

To all whom it may canoe 1m:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER Mimics. a subject of the lfing of Great Britain. residing at Leytonstone Essex, Englaml, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Propulsion of Boats and Other Vessels of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the method of propelling boats and other vessels by means of the horizontal reciprocation of a paddle or blade carried by an arm or the like to which it is so pivoted or attached that it can move relatively thereto and be utilized as a rudder for steering the vessel to which it is attached when so de sired.

According to the invention the paddle or blade is pivoted to the outer end of a frame which is attached to the lower end of a tiller post or the like, the said frame being so constructed that the said paddle or blade can fit within it and act as a rudder.

When the device is to be used as a propeller, the blade is released from the frame and swung outwards so that as the tiller post is oscillated the said blade is reciprocated with a sweeping motion. The extent to which the blade can pivot in the frame is limited by stops of any suitable construction. For example, I may for this purpose attach a forked fitting to the blade which engages a stop on the frame the said stop being advantageously a screw which serves to secure the blade to the frame when housed in the latter. The frame is furnished with means whereby the paddle or blade can be secured in position when housed within the frame.

To enable the invention. to be fully understood, I will describe it by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a boat fitted with one form of combined propeller and rudder, constructed according to the invention, and showing the parts in position for propulsion purposes.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the combined propelling and steering device.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure Q, showing the parts in the position for steering.

Figure 4: is a view showing a modification in which the propelling device is adapted to an ordinary rudder.

Serial No. 509,590.

Figs. 5 and 6 are an elevation and a plan respectively, .of a device for limiting the swing of the propeller blade.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in- Figures 1 to 3, a indicates the hull of the boat, I) the tiller or steering arm, which is hinged to the stern of the boat at c in the ordinary way. 03 indicates the frame which is attached to the lower end of the tiller post and c is the paddle or blade which is pivoted to the outer end of the said frame d. The connection of the paddle e to the frame (Z is effected, in the construction illustrated, by means of the upper and lower pivot pins which pass through holes in the outer end of the said frame, the upper pivot f being provided with a handle 9 by means of which the lower pivot f can be lifted and the propeller or blade turned from the position in which it can function as a pro peller, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, into the position shown in Figure 3 in which it is folded within the said frame, and in which it can be locked by the engagement of a pin it on the frame, with a hole 11- in the handle 9 provided for the purpose, the said lifting movement enabling the handle 9 to clear the pin it when the paddle is thus turned within the frame (Z.

Means are provided whereby the swing of the paddle or blade 6 in the frame d can be limited. in either direction so that the oscillation of the said blade when functioning as a propeller shall give the most eflicient results.

Figure 4 shows a construction which is very similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the difference being that the frame d is attached to an'ordinary rudder j which is cut away at its lower part to receive the same frame. In other respects, the device is the same as that hereinbefore described and functions in the same manner.

Figures 5 and 6 show means for limiting the swing of the paddle or blade 6, such means comprising a stop-piece Zc having shoulders Z, on on its surface which contact with a shoulder it provided in the end of the lower part of the frame (Z.

I claim:

1. Means for the propulsion of boats and other vessels of the kind hereinbefore referred to comprising an oscillating paddle, a vibratory frame attached to the lower end of a tiller posh and lo ithe outer end 01 which frame the paddle is pivoted for propurposes and Within which frame the paddle he turned and fixed so that the combined frame and blade can act as a rudder, and means comprising a handle, whereby blade may be "turned from the position 01" propeller into the pos' 'on of a rudder.

2. l leans for the propulsion of boats and osher vess ls as claimed in claim 1 comprising shoes on the vibratoiy frame ror limiting the angle of the said paddle relatively to the said frame When used for proi i em which the propeller blade may be folded back into position as a rudder, and means for locking said blade in said position.

3. Means for the propulsion of boats and other vessels, as claimed in claim 1, in which the blade is provided With a U-shaped handle said handle having a recess apin on the frame formed to fit in said recess, said handle being adapted to be turned back so that the recess and pin will register 25 and hold the blade in position as a rudder.

ALEXANDER MILLER. 

